ENT Specialists Spreading Word of the Importance of Hearing Protection

    ANCHORAGE, AK, May 10, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- ACENT (www.acentalaska.com), one of the leading ear, nose, and throat (ENT) practices in Anchorage, is educating Alaska residents about the potential dangers posed by exposure to hazardous noise and the benefits of customized hearing protection.

"Hearing loss caused by exposure to excessively loud sounds can be prevented when people understand the risks of not wearing hearing protection," Dr. James E. Kallman says. "ACENT is promoting the need for customized hearing protection at community events in Anchorage and through our audiology specialists."

ACENT is taking its educational message to the community, reaching out to hunters, pilots, musicians, and others who risk hearing loss because of regular exposure to excessive noise. The practice recently set up a booth at The Great Alaskan Sportsman's Show in Anchorage, providing information about custom hearing protection for hunters.

Convincing sportsmen to use hearing protection devices is sometimes difficult, the doctors say. In the past, hunters avoided wearing earplugs because they hampered the ability to detect small auditory clues, such as the snap of a stick that could indicate the approach of a deer or the fluttering wings of a pheasant.

But technological advances have rendered those excuses obsolete, the physicians say. Specialized earplugs designed for hunters and offered by ACENT include a filter that instantly closes when noise reaches a level damaging to hearing. Normal hearing is possible at all other times.

"We're concerned that most hunters, including children with their families, don't wear any ear protection at all," Dr. Kallman says. "They think that because only a few shots may be fired, it won't cause damage. Unfortunately, that's not the case."

Excessive noise is an occupational hazard, too. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, every year approximately 30 million people in the United States are exposed to hazardous noise at work.

Dr. Jennifer L. Scholl, ACENT's director of audiology, says the message of wearing customized hearing protection devices can't be emphasized enough.

"Noise exposure is a common cause of tinnitus, or ringing in the ears," Dr. Scholl says. "When the exposure is too loud or occurs over a long period of time, permanent damage is possible. And, at this time, there are no medical or surgical treatments available to repair inner ear damage caused by excessive noise exposure. That's why prevention is so important."

ACENT (www.acentalaska.com) Alaska Center for Ear, Nose, and Throat includes 3 highly skilled, experienced physicians who are each board certified in otolaryngology -- head and neck surgery. Dr. Dwight M. Ellerbe, Dr. James E. Kallman, and Dr. Stephen B. Schaffer are joined by Dr. Jennifer L. Scholl, director of ACENT's audiology services. Dr. Ellerbe and Dr. Kallman are also board certified in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Together, the group offers a multifaceted practice, ranging from the treatment of medical conditions that affect the head and neck to facial aesthetics, including plastic and reconstructive surgery and skin care.

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